Steve Carell's Red-Carpet Rescue of Anne Hathaway

Personal questions were strictly forbidden at the Italian premiere of Get Smart on Monday – but that didn’t stop one reporter from asking the movie’s star, Anne Hathaway, “Was the separation from your ex-boyfriend painful?”

The actress’s former flame, Raffaello Follieri, remains in prison, awaiting trial on a dozen counts of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering. And while Hathaway, 25, has continued with her publicity tour, she has steadfastly refused to discuss the split.

After the reporter lobbed the question, Hathaway remained silent and attempted a faint smile.

But, as if on cue, her costar Steve Carell valiantly stepped in to declare: “In my role of agent [for] Miss Hathaway, I would like to say that she does not answer questions relating to this subject.” – Kate Stroup